Texas South Plains Honor Flight group working to give back to local veterans

In return for all that World War II and Korean veterans have done for our country, the Texas South Plains Honor Flight group is working to give a little something back.

Teaming up with the Green Queens Recycling Service, they spent the weekend collecting clothing and electronic donations to send over 130 veterans to Washington, D.C. to see the war memorials that represent all that they stood for. Committee member Charlie Scarborough said there are a number of reasons why this trip is so important.

"One is to honor those veterans," Scarborough said. "Especially our World War II veterans and all, because their memorial wasn't build until later. Theirs was the last one built. And besides, these guys are getting older, and there are fewer and fewer that can make this trip."

We caught up with Kay Harris, who was there to donate. She witnessed another honor flight during a recent rip to D.C., and said she believes in the cause wholeheartedly.

"It allows them, who served us, to go back and see the mall, and we saw the mall and the changing of the guard," Harris said. "So they get to, again, relive their memories. It was really incredible."

Our own Dave King with Fox Talk 950 is chairman of the committee, and said the entire Lubbock community has been tremendously supportive.

"Our mayor is on board, the city council people that we have talked to are on board with us, Randy Neugebauer is, of course, going to meet us in Washington D.C. and take us on a tour of the Capitol when we get there," King said.

And the veterans themselves have taken advantage of the experience.

"Most of these vets are at such an age that they need someone to go with them, and so that's a guardian," King said. "Well over 200 people have actually filled out applications and responded, wanting to go on this flight."

Set to leave October 2, the committee plans to keep raising money until then, including a fundraiser at Blue Sky, and hosting a telethon.